"6x Growth in One Week"... 'Baby Island' Born from Volcanic Eruption in Tonga

Underwater Volcano Eruption in Tonga, South Pacific
New Baby Island Emerges 11 Hours After Eruption... Island Size Grows 6 Times in a Week
NASA "Most New Islands Have Short Lifespans"

On the 10th (local time), a new baby island emerged as the Hunga Tonga underwater volcano erupted near the South Pacific island nation of Tonga.
[Photo by NASA Earth Observatory]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A new baby island has emerged in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga due to an underwater volcanic eruption.

On the 24th (local time), according to CNN, a new island was born in the waters near Tonga and was captured by NASA's Earth Observatory.

This island is known to have been created by the eruption of the underwater volcano Home Reef near Tonga on the 10th.

The island, which appeared above the water surface 11 hours after the volcanic eruption, gradually grew. Previously, researchers from the Tonga Geological Services measured the island's size as only 4,000㎡ on the 14th. However, by the 20th, its size had grown to 24,000㎡. In just one week, it increased in size about sixfold.

Regarding this, NASA explained, "New islands created by underwater volcanic eruptions mostly have a short lifespan," but added, "Sometimes islands last for several years or even decades."

Currently, the eruption of the Home Reef volcano is reported to be ongoing. However, according to the Tonga Geological Services, the possibility of damage such as evacuation of nearby residents or airport paralysis is low.

On January 15th (local time), a satellite belonging to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured footage of the underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga. [Photo by the international academic journal 'Nature']

Meanwhile, earlier this year, a large-scale volcanic eruption occurred in Tonga. On January 15th, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located 65 km northwest of Tongatapu Island, erupted, causing a widespread tsunami along the Pacific coast.

This is estimated to be the most powerful volcanic eruption in the 20th century. In particular, due to the eruption, Hunga Tonga Island and Hunga Ha'apai Island, which were located at the top of the volcanic body, disappeared by 91% and 75%, respectively, and a new 700m deep hole was created, lowering the central depth from 150m to 820m.